The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina has collected more than $16 million in criminal and civil actions over the course of 2022.
U.S. Attorney Michael Easley said, “We are committed to using every tool available to aggressively collect restitution for victims, criminal fines, and recover taxpayer dollars lost to fraud and owed to government agencies.”
A press statement from Easley’s office broke down the $16,323,043.41 in criminal and civil actions as follows: $12,196,251.65 collected in criminal actions and $4,126,791.76 collected in civil actions.
Some significant collections included: In August 2022, the Eastern District of North Carolina collected over $360,000 from Yousef Kaid. Although not the District’s largest monthly collection total, it was the result of significant enforcement action, netted a substantial sum for the victims of Kaid’s crimes, and epitomizes the office’s dogged pursuit of criminal monetary penalties. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/nine-arrested-conspiracy-traffic-contraband-cigarettes
In January and June 2022, the Eastern District of North Carolina collected a total of $1.5 million from Margaret Gibson. Those payments were the result of a settlement agreement resolving False Claims Act allegations against her. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ednc/pr/north-carolina-durable-medical-equipment-corporation-sentenced-10-million-healthcare
Additionally, the Eastern District of North Carolina worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $25,900.61 in cases pursued jointly by these offices. Of this amount, $25,300.61 was collected in criminal actions and $600 was collected in civil actions.
The U.S. attorneys’ offices, along with the department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
Additionally, the U.S. attorney’s office in the Eastern District of North Carolina, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected $16,891,175 in asset forfeiture actions in 2022. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
“We are proud of the men and women in our office who have worked so hard to ensure justice through their collection efforts. They are to be congratulated for their tremendously successful efforts.”